Drake, Thank Me Later Gets an XL

You only get one chance to make a first impression. Err…sort of. Despite its debut status, Aubrey “Drake” Graham’s Thank Me Later is no introductory effort. Since the release of the Toronto native’s free mixtape, So Far Gone, in February 2009, Drizzy’s been able to rattle off a veritable checklist of career highlights in just over a year. The project’s success earned him a reported multimillion-dollar deal with his mentor Lil Wayne’s Young Money label, it spawned two hit singles (“Best I Ever Had” and “Successful”), and the shortened EP version went on to sell over 470,000 copies. With his newfound celebrity status, Drake’s been embraced by hip-hop’s greats, lending a hook to Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 (“Off That”) and collaborating with Eminem on “Forever.” He’s also been party to a bevy of Cash Money–affiliated projects (Young Money’s We Are Young Money LP and Birdman’s Pricele$$), headlined awards shows, graced magazine covers and appeared in a Sprite commercial. A year makes a world of difference, and things definitely done changed for the former star of the popular teen TV series, Degrassi: The Next Generation. So now what?

When an artist delivers a critically acclaimed project—be it a mixtape or an album—they’ll always be measured against it. Such is the case here, as it’s difficult not to compare Thank Me Later with So Far Gone. Luckily, Drake largely sticks to what’s worked for him in the past—which is to say a healthy mix of singing and rapping, elaborate arrangements that find whole new songs almost tacked on to others, and deeply reflective subject matter. Perhaps the best example of this is “The Resistance,” where Drizzy laments, “What am I afraid of?/This is supposed to be what dreams are made of/But people I don’t have the time to hang with/Always look at me and say the same shit/‘You promised me you’d never change.’” He’s equally revealing on “Fireworks,” where he alludes to his brief fling with Rihanna, and “Unforgettable,” which finds him celebrating his carpe-diem ethos as he experiences his meteoric rise.

The project has a bunch of surefire hits. The Kanye West–produced “Find Your Love” is all lo-fi drums and rich piano chords, not unlike something that might have appeared on ’Ye’s 808s & Heartbreak. But with Drake, who has a better command of his voice, it’s a straight-up summertime R&B smash. Similar R&B territory is explored on the slow-jam-ish “Shut It Down,” a duet with The-Dream that finds Drake imploring, “Put those fucking heels on and work it, girl/Let that mirror show you what you’re doing.” He’s equally encouraging on the Swizz Beatz–produced “Fancy,” which, for the better part, is just a nod to beautiful women, but then veers off into an experimental, ambient mix, which Drake just raps over. Very cool. And if there’s any doubt the kid can flat out spit, there are the obligatory Young Money collabs “Up All Night” (with Nicki Minaj) and “Miss Me” (with Lil Wayne).

Perhaps the only thing that takes away from what is essentially a stellar debut LP is that, much like the fact that he both rhymes and sings, Drake sometimes sounds kind of confused about what he wants. “Light Up,” with Jay-Z, is all about not getting caught up in the Hollywood lifestyle, but then “Karaoke” finds him reflecting about a past relationship gone sour under the flashing lights. Luckily, instances of this confusion are few and far between.

Drake initially endeared himself to fans by combining lyrical skill with infectious melodies, all while maintaining an everyman’s sensibility. Just an upper-middle-class kid—yeah, perhaps a little well off, so what?—trying to make it. On Thank Me Later, he explores what it’s like to have done that—to have become successful. Turns out, it’s not exactly what he thought it would be. But it still sounds pretty damn remarkable.

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Best of XXL

Wallman

M. All the songs on there sounded the same.

erik

stupid,thank me later was one of the best albuls ever

jonny bizness

xxl u got it right with the beats it kinda overshadows him not to say he ain’t dope the album is dope and i would disagree about karoake i think it is the best joint on the album along with unforgettable NOW WILL U PLEASE RATE THIS EMINEM ALBUM 2 PUT ALL THE ARGUMENTS 2 BED !!!!!!!!!!!!!

swype-matic

I’m not really sure when XXL reviews meant anything, they pretty much lost all credibility when Chamillionaire,Bone Thug, and Trae all got an L, L, and M. They may as well draw ratings out of a hat.

stuckfresh

To be honest compared to other debut albums like snoop, 50, Biggie and even Young Jeezy I would have to say this album is a Large at best! I like the album but I dont listen to it over n over again! And im a Cash Money fan!

tommy gunz

its a dope album

but if its an XL…

em’s shit is an XL.5

gaddic

L RATING THE MOST
ALBUM IS THE DEFINITION OF MEDIOCRITY

that nigga

@gaddic: YOU AINT NEVA LIED!!!! L rating at the most and that might be too much. Two really hot songs and the rest are ehhhhh!! You, XXL and the media hyped this kid up so much and he couldnt deliver on the album. So Far Gone was waaaay better than Thank Me Later.

Drizzle-Nutz

Hatersssssss come out to playyyy…..

Im sick of hearing about Eminems album. THat shit is OKAY. Fuck outta here. All his shit sounds the same. And Drake has the same flow? Nigga EMINEM has the SAME FLOW. Same yelling 3 syllable words over and over again Just because he rhymes the shit together in a fast flow, people get mind boggled. I give Recovery a L if anything. MMLP will be his best for the rest of history. And to niggas comparing Eminem and Drake? Get the fuck outta here. Shit pisses me off man. Drake is doing something fresh and different and fags are complaining. Same fags complaining that all rap sounds the same. Atleast Drake CAN sing. No offense to Ye’… but stop with the Em comparisons. Em is almost 40…. Yea almost 40

http://www.xxlmag.com peterose24

yea is 33 em is almost 40 plus drake style isnt any thing new he stole waynes and kanyes style and cadence and kanye did the singing rapping no drug dealin rap thing when he first came out

TUNED2IT

Yo a good artist copys and a great artist steals. Google that. The tml album is hot no doubt, em issh is cool, but i think alot of us grew up why hasn’t em’s subject matter changed? it’s just outdated now. drake is a young cat in this game w/grown folk spit. i respect that.

Escobar9300

@ Drizzle Nutz: Drake….is that you?

swype-matic

Of course

Karim

Please get Drake’s dripping dick out of your shitshooter… Em is legendary you imbecile… Drake is damn near pop-tart charts. He’s got flow I must admit, but comparing him to em is downright heresy… Idiot.

Anonymous

eminem can rap way bettr and he could sing sumtimes atleast hooks

Ladyferro

You are so right!! the M. is most def. and L but I’m lovin the Drake(XXL)

Larry2X

What the fuck are talking about drizzle what ever the hell your name is. What does age have to do with rhyme skillz, If Em was 90 he could out spit Drake, lets not forget the last verse on Forever Em killed EVERYBOBY.There is a difference in killing a track and making a song Em is making songs,Drake is okay, bet I find you love was a dissapointment because of all the decent verses he had before.To me it was very elementary.The only thing Drake has on Em is the fact that he can really sing(if thats what you want to callit)Devin tha dude even got drake there,and he is almost 40 too nigga. Rap is about talent and skill the older you get the better of an emcee you become but your young ass is not old enough to know that yet, keep livin Kid

Mack

haha gots to be Aubrey…. riding his nuts that hard Listen Ive never been a fan your just another “hot” rapper that wont have any longevity… IE busta, snoop, nas, q- tip mos def, andre 3 stack, big boi scarface, 8 ball , MJG, yeah some will detract saying what have they sold they aint hot!!! but no doubt they are legends will drake become one???? I doubt wise up there are rappers that come and go too masny infact he will be one

j-mo

large shit it wuz 2 hype up so he wuz goin 2 fail

Heartbeat of 905

Did drake drizzle his nuts on you?

Phuckin homo

chitown

I agree with the rating. Drake is comin from a whole nother angle and people dont even give it a chance but they were rockin wit em when he first came out. Recovery is decent but it couldve been a lot better like TML but still. I bet if Eminem rapped the same exact verses on the same beats from TML people would hail it as the greatest album ever existed. Not hatin just observin

swype-matic

If Eminem rapped over all the TML beats, it would just sound like a happy version of Relapse, which is worst than Relapse was anyway.

Drizzle-Nutz

@Heartbeat of 905

very clever…havent heard that one before…

Unoriginal faggot

Pacman

I’m feeling what everyone says on the hate tip. Drake may not be for everybody to listen to over and over. Personally I think the album is extremely good…damn near a perfect “official” debut. I’m from Detroit myself but I got to give it to Drake…he is and will probably continue to be more versatile than Em. Both deserve their credit but I have to completely disagree that everything sounds the same on Drake’s album…so many different styles going on to say that. Anybody who appreciates music and its range should definitely enjoy Drake and his efforts.

T

^^ Drake isnt anything new nor fresh & he is def not more or even as versatile as Em, actually I dnt think any1 has ever been as versatile as Em! No1 has ever rapped about as many things as he has,FUCK OUTTA HERE TML IS JUS OK & RECOVERY IS GREAT……..ALL DRAKE’S SHIT SOUNDS THE SAME & EM HAS SO MANY DIFF SOUNDS SO WTF U TLKN BOUT WILLIS?? DRAKE DOES HAVE THE SAME FLOW & EM MOST LIKELY HAS MORE FLOWS THAN ANY RAPPER THAT EVER GRACED THE MIC U FOOL…& BTW WHO CARES BOUT AGE, EM IS BETTER THAN DRAKE AT 37 & WAS BETTER THAN HIM AT 22 & RECOVERY IS NOT AN L ITS A XXL & TML IS AN L

http://thisismarlow.blogspot.com Killuminati

The Fuck Stop Ridin Em’s Dick He Raps About The Same Shit All The Time GTFOH With That Bias Bullshit

http://freeps3cards.com/ drakeha

drake is ok but he hasnt proved anything yet. Once he puts in his work then I will rate him

http://myspace.com/kidpistol Kid Pistol

I give it an “L”

????

You Notice All These Mufuckas Talkin Bout How Much They Hate Drake Stay On This Nigga Posts And Shit You Faggots Need To Get A Occupation Other Then Ridin Somebody’s Dick In To The Ground

Aintnothin

funny shit is everybodys gonna hear shit different why fucking hate on eachother opinions?!?!? your waisting your time argueing about dumb shit..sit back grab some headphones and make ur own opinion…Eminem CD is a growth in his OWN way he went from talking bout killing people to some Joe Budden type Mood Music shit were he puts lyrics to bed and shows you what type of shit is going on IN HIS HEAD AND LIFE,Haters are haters and if you dont know the def of haters it isnt somebodys thoughts on or opinions on shit they like and dont like A TRUE FUCKING HATER is somebody who sits backs (like MOST who comment before even listening) and make dumb ass comments…drakes album it just aint my shit i never felt his flow or rhyme structure i felt like its not original that just my thought…not to take anything away from his skills because some of his verse’s are dope as fuck but that just that dope not anything else not a NAS,Jay-Z,Talib Kweli type lines like FUCK DAMN he aint that rapper he’s a rapper not an Emcee but thats just my opinion i dont like just hearing about his love life or drama with how much money he has and how its affected his life BUT i dont hate on anybody who likes it that just MAD HOMO to do fuck what others think DO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eminems album is DOPE ASS FUCK…DRAKES ALBUM is dope too i heard em both but replay vaule to me is Eminems…argue all you want but ask yourself this…when it comes down to pure skill and flow and wordplay…listen to “forever” who’s got the best verse??!?!? haha its JUST MY OPINION get that corny ass “im on my disney shit goofy flow” ahhhhhhhhhhhhh hahahaha

Wtf?

Damn You Sounding Like Drake Right About Now: Confused As Fuck, First It’s Drake’s Album Is Dope, Next Its Get That Disney Shit Goofy Flow Outta Here, No Sir You Get That “Bi-Polar Ass Train Of Thought” Comment Outta Here, And Your Comment Aint Even Make Sense Re-word Your Shit Homie

And Both Albums Are Good

aintnothin

i dont think you get it…aint no rewording required im not gonna put my shit into different paragraphs so you can figure out where 1 sentence ends and another begins hahaha point is aint no bi-polar shit like i said em’s is dope and drakes is dope but they are 2 different albums 2 different styles…and that last line was talkin about that wack asssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss bullshit line that drake had…sayin GET THAT BULLSHIT OUTTA HERE dont take shit sooo literal son it aint a big deal its a wack line EVERYBODY HAS EM so does eminem people on here are mad funny its FUCKING COMMENTS!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hahahaha

Wtf?

….Aiight

Anonymous

im tired of all u haters constantly comparing TML to recovery. they are two completely different albums. Em is a RAPPER who does great RAPPING and made a great RAP album (recovery). Drake raps, but is far from just a rapper. He made an R&B album with some rapping on it. Em is influencing rap and always has been, but Drake is influencing new music as a whole (and killin it…especially with his rapping abilities)

Cole World

Influencing New Music As A Whole Is The Only Thing That Mattered In The Comment You Wrote

Anonymous

Recovery and TML are two totally different pieces of art, stop comparing them. They’re both good albums from two good artists, period. Think about both sides of the spectrum before you say extreme shit. And use fuckin spell check every once in a blue moon damn lol how do you expect to get your point across when you sound retarded???? And all the people talking about Em rhyming about the same shit…wow

Anonymous

Recovery and TML are two totally different pieces of art, stop comparing them. They’re both good albums from two good artists, period. Think about both sides of the spectrum before you say extreme shit. And use fuckin spell check every once in a blue moon damn lol how do you expect to get your point across when you sound retarded???? And all the people talking about Em rhyming about the same shit…wow

Q461

Both Recovery and Thank me Later are dope. Totally different bodies of work. I said it before, but alot of Drake’s better material came out before the album.But that shit still bangs for the most part, and he’s only gonna get better, he’s got the heart and drive. As far as Recovery, I gotta give it another listen, it’s very different but I’m sure it will grow on me, pause. It’s gotta about 5 or 6 tracks on it that I really like right now though. Kinda sucks that the 2 bonus tracks are only on Itunes though, cause those 2 were better than alot of things on that record.

Also, don’t sleep on the new Roots joint How I got over. Overall, a couple of good weeks for hip-hop with these 3 records.

NefariousSun

First of all I think dude aint deserve XL. When jay electronica and jcole drop they better get XXL..Drake to me could do no wrong before he started this singing shit…and the thing is.. he don’t sing with soul, or from a male perspective…I haven’t felt Em since Devils Night album.. and the Bet Cipher…he can save the road to redemption singing and shyt.. Respect to all the men I mentioned living they dreams and feeding there family.

The1987Kid

I can’t stand when niggas always saying somebody is hating when its only being critical i think that is just ignorant & misplaced, I heard the album and to be honest its an “L” at best, Just cause he is singing doesnt make it dope he should be on the front of the Hip-Hop Soul edition of XXL then, His lyrics are plain & his flow is monotone after awhile it gets tiring & boring. This guy is nothing but hype & most people let the mainstream hype machine pick & choose what is hot for them, His production is average i thought if he had did a song with DJ Premier or The Neptunes i think it would have been a better quality album & surprising which is missing in hip-hop these days, The guy is talented but he just tried to hard to make a good album this album is for the mainstream its ment to sale records not bring anything innovating or different…

Lyrics: L
Beats: L
Originality: L

RDS

Just gonna flat out be honest on this but…

…seriously, the album has grown on me. The music as a whole is extremely cohesive, almost to a fault. Some of the instrumentals sound very similar, as if the body of work is blending together. I’m not sure if it’s “organic”, because it’s a bit TOO seamless, but for me at least, it works. And I was seriously thinking it was going to be terrible. I wasn’t feeling any of the leaked material. I think my fave is probably “Unforgettable” with “Shut It Down” coming in second. The former’s melody is ill and the latter’s concept is more original than I’ve recently heard from Drake.

-R

http://www.xxlmag.com 14snipez

Man i agree with that statement the album as a whole did seem to blend 2 fuckin well as if they planned it 2 sound extremely melodic. But then if u look at the actually credits 40 n Boi-1-da did a majority of the album’s beats.(i.e. the Resistance beat blended at the end to become Over) I really feel Drake deserved an L rating for his lyrics nothing he said really blew me away. Every artist he featured on the track with him had a better verse in my “OPINION” Comeback Season Drake even So Far Gone Drake’s lyrics were more potent. Beats i feet shoulda been XL due to the fact that I got bored a little after i heard the songs in rotation all day n night. Originality being a XL is fine

Donald Bridger

damn i dont usually read internet comments and now i remember why lmaoo you guys are so gayyyyy. talking shit anonoumously on the xxl site about a young rapper who can spit and whos gettin crazy money. makes perfecttt sense, haha fuckin queers

Mr. Scientist

Meh, I would’ve gave this an L.

the lyrics to me were M while the beats, a XXL like said. Drake hasn’t really improved anything on this record and seems to be too much up his own ass to even think that any of the lyrical content is weak, which it really really is.

KingP

What doesn’t get an xl on xxl besides a really bad album?

Anonymous

Hands down this should have been rated XXL

JC

PERFECT SCORE…drake is the truth, and his album has completely grew on me…the critics have this album RIGHT…absolutely solid production and honest lyrics…and a TRUE songwriter…everything he talks about is coming from a REAL place…and he debuted at #1 for a REAL REASON…

XL sounds about right for drake. Some more raw spitting would’ve been ideal. I’ve noticed over the years that XXL tends to pass up on rating some incredible albums. This year must be different. Whether they admit it or not MC’s still covet this honor…R.I.P. to the Source. Eminem’s Relapse and Reflection Eternal’s Revolutions Per Minute must get the XXL rating. Those of you who agree please speak up. Those of you who haven’t heard these gems yet must do so immidiately. Word.

ff1one@yahoo.com

This was a safe rating. Drake has fans and the radio on lock. radio equals promo equals dollars equals industrial machine. XxL had to do this safe rating. Is it a classic? idk. i think xxl is the safe choice. if you think every song sounds the same, you don’t know music. 40 does a lot of the productions so yeah the beats sound a like. the flow is drakes and its him. The album is actually good at its lyricst and the picture it paints. it starts off with fireworks. it has dramtic turn in the middle and he closes at the end. Drake is young and the ablum featues a lot of partying. what else do you expect?

As for em, dude sings just as much as drake if not more. diversity? Nah, em just says crazy ish because he cause. most rappers wouldn’t be aloud to talk about those things. most men won’t.

This Man

I honestly have to wonder if Drake payed XXL off. Becuase this album is a L at best. Lyrics L, originality L and beats – well they are not what I like so I’ll have to say L

http://www.yahoo.com dr@$t-iQ Alkoholik

damn this the gayest shit since Weezy kissed Birdman,how the fuck you give this fruit punch an XL, wack it’s a good thing got it on Bootleg played it once and deleted that mo’fo

On the real though its weak, at best its an L

g*swift

FUCC DRAKE AT 1ST IS WHUT A NIGGA THOUGHT BCUZ HE GREW UP ON T.V. I’M NOT HATTIN BUT I RELATE 2 RAPPERS/EMCEE’S ETC… BASED SOLEY ON CONTENT & STRUGGLE U DON’T HAVE 2 B SHOT LIKE PAC, 50, & GAME OR BE IN DA TRAP LIKE JEEZY, GUCCI, OR T.I. 2 GAIN RESPECT EITHER BUT C’MON SON LOL DRAKE’S A PREMADONNA ON DA MIC GLORIFYIN DA GLITZ & GLAM LIFESTYLE DAT EVERYBODY CAN’T EXPERIENCE WHERE’S SUBSTANCE I MEAN WHUT CAN U LEARN FROM CUZZ BESIDE’S WHUT WE ALL DID IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS GETTIN DRUNK & FUCCIN BITCHES I’M 25 & DAT’S STILL YOUNG BUT HE NEEDS 2 GROW MORE AS AN ARTIST 2 ME XL IS KINDA OF HIGHER RATTING THEN U GIVE UR MOST HIGH CALIBER EMCEE’S EVENTHOUGH IT AIN’T BETTER THAN SO FAR GONE OR RECOVERY NOT DICC RIDIN OR AN EM STAN EITHER JUSS SPEAKIN DA REAL & EM HAD DA BEST VERSE ON FOREVER SO 2 DA XXL STAFF WHO’S UNDA PAYROLL BE MORE REALISTICS WITH UR RATING’S & STOP HATTIN ON THOSE WITH REAL TALENT WEST UP TH1RD MOVIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stylistic

It’s a Large at best! I personally think he’s for the ladies, I don’t know how dudes could drive around pumping this borderlined R&B album. There’s a handful of good songs on it, but best rapper out right now? Nah! That title goes out to Joell Ortiz!….Drizzle Nuts…All the greatest emcees in the world are either 40 or nearing it, what does age have to do with lyrical talent, and good music? Music is not sports, somebody coming up now like Drake CAN-NOT rhyme better then somebody like Eminem, or Krs-One, so where are you going with that? Anyway Drake’s album is an L!!!!!

Yessir

Good point…. what dude rides around bumping some R&B shit if they are not with their girl.

Yessir

Good point…. what dude rides around bumping some R&B shit if they are not with their girl.

Yessir

Good point…. what dude rides around bumping some R&B shit if they are not with their girl.

sATaLyte

^^
MAN LAW!

dfsf

macaroni and cheese

INfamous1

I WOULD SAY TML IS A L. WHEN I LISTENED 2 IT I DIDN’T REALLY GET THE HIP-HOP FEEL. IT FELT MORE LIKE AN R&B ALBUM W/ SOME RAPPING. I DON’T THINK IT EVEN LIVED UP 2 ITS HYPE. SO FAR GONE IS BETTER THAN TML, EVEN THO BOTH REMIND ME OF 808′S & HEARTBREAKS. I CAN’T SAY DRAKE IS BRINGING SOMETHING NEW 2 THE GAME. HIS CONTENT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS ANY OTHER RAPPER THAT DIDN’T LIVE IN THE HOOD. I DO THINK HE’S DEFINITELY TALENTED. & WE SHOULD ALL SUPPORT THE NEW RAPPERS COMING IN CUZ I’M TIRED OF DA NIGGAS DAT BEEN IN DIS RAP SHIT 10YRS OR MORE.

Stanin’ Like a MuhFcka

That album was trash. Deserved a M at best. Recovery wasn’t mind blowing either. Yall are fucking crazy. Just because dude is on Young Money he automatically gets atleast an “L”. How are you gonna say that B.o.B.’s album and Drake’s album are equally as good. That is fucking unbelievable.

Michael Gunnells

…ignorant

dnt-no-nudda

i knew the album wud get an xl b4 it was released just bcoz its drake as 4 the comparisons its just that they came out close 2 each other im not convinced bout drake he makes better rnb than rap i mean eminem hes a ledgend and a beast onda mic and drakes had his moments but hes along way off that status but overall im just happy 2 have some new music 2 listen 2 while i wait for j.coles album now hes a beast compare him n drake hands down j.cole is a better spitter than drake but probly wont sell as much coz drake sits in that bubble gum lane shit who cares right play drake(SO FAR GONE nt TML) when ur wit ur girl and u want some booty n Em when ur kickn back relaxin smokin drinkin

BeerGangsta

This is no surprise. I knew he would go Gold in a week. It will be Platium in a month. Fans was looking for something different and got it. Nikki turn next. Save HipHop damit!!

General

Comments on here are gettin pretty predictable. I understand Drake’s music isn’t for everyone, same as Em’s music isn’t for everyone. I don’t know why people just can’t enjoy the music instead of always turning it into some battle of backforth nonsense…

I think TML was a solid debut and one of the more complete CD’s out this year. I really find it funny that all the complaints about “the machine” gassin him up, but if you notice its also all your favorite artists (Jay, Wayne, Em, Ye, Bun B) that are also singin his praises and respecting what he does…

Like I said, his shit ain’t for everybody, but he did manage to make a solid, if not quite great yet CD…

And yes Recovery is the best CD that has come out this year, with Nas and Damian Marley’s 2nd, but Drake has a chance to have this be one of the top 5 or 10 cd’s of the year…

Helper

OKAY This is the only opinion that matters- This album gets an XL Because some of the songs like the resistance are stupid and some of the songs like miss me are great(minus waynes verse). The beats are really good, Hes got a plenty of subject matter and flow but some tracks just didnt fit. If you bastards woulda stopped leaking the mans work he wouldnt have had to go and rework some of the songs and the album.. Greedy idiots. Also he admitted that he stole his flow from big sean.. finally famous anyone?

Helper

XXL… Why did you go and Fuck up the mobile site?

W.T.F?

stop riding em so hard his album was not as good as hoped…. it was full of stupid lame ass hooks the beats were dumb he just rushed it he should have took the time to think about what he was gonna say…. the proof song he made.. made me think they were gay..i cant listen to xxl no more they have shity reviewers… i aint no drake super fan im just a fan of him and i use to listen to eminem but not this time… R.I.P em you use to be good you make me want to drug you and bring shady out you… even stan would be dissapointed

avenger xl

XXL you have very little cred left in my book but this is fuckin ridonkulous. The album is mediocre and bland. Is Drake talented as a rapper/autotune singer for this the pure pop school of hip-hop yes. But what makes this album a XL besides the fact his people paid for so much advertisment that he has to get love or they stop spending money. You can’t come clean cause the game is dirty.

http://la206.bandcamp.com ?uesthate

The Recovery Vs. TML debate is absurd.

Ya’ll need to be comparing Slim Shady LP vs. TML, or College Dropout for that matter since so many of you Drake cocksuckers are convinced he’s changing music so much.

Kanye’s album influenced an entire decade of hip-hop where as TML is influencing twelve year olds.

Sorry this is nothing new and after watching that documentary trying to hold on to the last bit of belief I had in him from SFG I’ve let go. After hearing him sing in the booth I witnessed the reality of his skill set. You want to talk about rapping and singing? The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill or even The Score was doing this BETTER than Drake when Jimmy was in his wheelchair. Gnarles Barkley went plat singing in fucking polka dot suits and face paint. So all you Drake fuck boys need to fall back and remove his genitals from your tonsils. He is more of a magician than musician.. great entertainer.

SutterKane

Eh, to each their own, this cat does nuthin for me though

*Kanye Shrug*

Tha truth

This guy will be exposed as a bigger fraud than VANILLA ICE..no talent, scooped up from the suburbs and TRAINED for the retards that dont know nothing about HIPHOP

FrankDuke2424

Yo stop comparing a hip hop cd to a rnb cd they showed a drake crowd on tv and it was 92 percent women out there waiting on that cd and the men in here riding around playing drake pause no homo compare his sales and cd to trey songs or somebody because unless i got a dead ear B.o.B album was way better but not to xxl man when you cool with little wayne and can rap just a little bit they make you the next big thing

EdfromVA

I think some of yall don’t know the difference between a Rapper and A Emcee. Em is a rapper and Drake is an Emcee the vast majority of his fan base is females…then a again you got these niggas up here screaming fuck Drake but a few days later go cop the cd.. anyway doc opinions are like assholes everybody got one at the end of the day shut the FUCK UP and Listen to the Music.

annon

drakes album is very good o lie! BUT you cant compare him to eminem cos em is on a differently planet to him, in terms of LYRICALLY, flow and song writing. For me eminem is the best alive!!!

the new eleven

Drake is talented and so far gone was tight, but TML is sort of boring, I feel like i’ve heard it all before. The beats stand out but honestly that’s more props to 40. It’s an L.

Mrs. Roc Nation

Wow so many fuckin haterz geez FALL THE FUCK BACK The album is Amazing Drake is awesome u niggas find a new hobby cuz rating music is most Def. not one of u hatin ass niggas qualities!! and Em need 2 just be a feat. on niggas shit from here on out cuz that shit weak ass hell LMAO…… Angry bastard all cuz do is yell

Betazoids

From what I’m hearing he leans on that auto tune shit to much. That shit ain’t all that. Sounds like he got a sore throat. Can the nigga really sing or what? The beats is okay. Lot of people bumping it. It’s the shit to have right now. I’ll get a copy from somewhere.

newyawka631

All i gotta say about da rating,is it matches his clothes size….Being He’s off that “oversized clothes”,you do da math….

ceezy4sheezy

okay all yall comparing drake to eminem need to slap yourselves they not even in the same category drake appeals to the females and is a r and b singer and em is a hip hop artist come on son like seriously

http://www.myspace.com/slotchmusic ms_spittuh

Wow..Drake being compared to Eminem? Lol thats not as bad as when I ran into an article last night saying that Nicki Minaj has an Ol’ Dirty Bastard style. I almost threw up again…and thats all I’ve been doing all this week….vomiting… I ain’t trying to do it again. People are comparing green apples (drake) to gumbo (em) and bananas (nicki) to neopolitan ice cream (odb). I think everyone is losing their fucking minds. Young folks vs. the old hip hop heads and I think its funny. I just received a death threat on youtube earlier today because I said YM is overrated. And this is just one of many. By the way the bitch typed you can tell she was a young black girl. Folks are really taking shit to the head and its getting scary. Drake didn’t fully deliver (is what i’m hearing in my neighborhood) and because of that people are pissed off. Damn. Niggas acting like he’s Malcolm X taking sides of the KKK or some shit lol he ain’t nobody but a little boy who’s scared of nipples….

http://www.kayosmusic.com kayos

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ToMeK

Listened to this cd once and it was enough for me. Then I heard Recovery and that shit was a work of art. Dunno why anyone is even trieing to compare the 2 with a argument. Personally I liked some of the raps on so far gone and some of his other stuff he did. But this new cd isn’t the best and probably aimed at a different crowd and market.

ff1one@yahoo.com

I listened to both albums in comparison over the last week. compare them would literally be like apples and oranges. You eat an apple for one reason and eat a orange for another. the texure differs and so on.

Drake album is xl on the verge of xxl. Keep in mind his age. the era of hip hop. the era of the internet. it did numbers. its creative. its personal. You can make a artist into what you want him/her to be. this is his offering. The album is catered to a certain group. its well written and put together. the entire album tells a story. Its his life since he got into the music buisnes. Much like B.o.B’s album which i think is more diverse and has more depth.

Recovery is a good album. it deserves a XL on the verge of a L. Why? Em is reaching on this album. It reminds me of stillmatic. From the title to the content. Its on the verge of him wanting his fans to feel sorry for him, and him saying he’ll make the music yall want to hear vs what he feels. thas why it lacks a little passion. Regardless em has great rhyme schemes crazy cadence and sick word play.

Phil

Beats – M
Lyrics – L
Originality – L

There were hardly any stand out beats on the album. I don’t get how it got a XXL but to each his own.

Lyrically it wasn’t all that impressive either. Sure he had some good lines but then he also had dumb shit like “I’m a star no spangled banner”.

Originality is where the review really looks dumb. You give it an XL while also pointing out he had a song that could have been on 808′s and Heartbreaks. So its original yet copied an exact style in one song you specifically pointed out.

Anyway I give it an L overall. Mostly based off of the hype around him. Everyone thought he was some savior but the album was just meh….

Just wait for J. Cole if you want a true savior.

Drizzle-Nutz

@Phil

how is the “I’m a star no spangled banner” not sick? Hes saying he’s a star minus the spangled banner cuz hes canadian and not american. Do your homework nigga

Anonymous

To be perfectly honest, i haven’t listened to Em’s or Drake’s albums. But both are talented in their own unique way. Neither one is a bad rapper but it’s always somebody better than both. It’s just what people are willing to listen to at the time. The music changes every two to three years think about it.

Anonymous

And every rapper/MC is prone to drop a questionable line (or album) at times. Wayne, Kanye, Pharoahe Monch etc. It wasn’t always that way though. When people set the bar, sometimes they set it to where they can’t reach it again. Nas with Illmatic, Jay-z with Reasonable Doubt, Em with his battle raps from the late 90′s and early 00′s and so on. And then as people get older their interests change. Might not wanna kill the mic no more. Just wanna be on the reality tip…suck it up

bakerboi

I’m very disappointed and I’ve listen at least 3 full times and I can’t feel. I was on Drake (No Homo) with so far gone, but this shit sounds the same, man. it’s more of a love album than hip hop. Dude you had a opportunity to become fucking great, but instead you went with the demographics trying to turn yourself into some type of sex symbol and shit. I mean Pac said make music for the bitches, but damn bro the whole album. OK, ok one or 2 tracks were hood, but then comes that slow I love you shit. you were killing em on SFG, now you’re just fading to black…….. not a good look. Oh, you trying to do Good Morning America. Psssst, Drake you didn’t have to cross over, you already were over there. You already had it man. I like the Pre-YM drake better.

Anonymous

For all you haters out there, please read this post: First off, Drake aint from fuckin’ Brooklyn so stop lookin’ for a fuckin’ street anthem! You’re not gonna get that from Drake! Two, he don’t need to put any west coast rapper i.e. Snoop on his debut album just to let everyone know he’s cool with every coast, it seems like every new artist not from Cali, thinks they have to put a west coast artist on there album!! Let’s face it, west coast rap is dead right now, the only album worth buying is the new Kurupt album, go get it! And The Game, fuck that dude, his album was suppose to drop a while ago and he keeps pushing it back, for what reason I dont know, no one is checkin’ for Game like that anymore, this ni&&a is trying to build anticipation for no fu*&in’ reason!! The Game has turned into a “counter puncher”, waiting till other artist hit then changes his album to make it sound more like there sh!t, lol!! And the South!!! Are you serious!!! Wacka Flocka-Fuck u, lmao, and Soulja Boy?!?!??!? Who’s paying this lil’ ni&&a!!!! I say this statement with the utmost confidence, I would knock Soulja Boy the fu#k out if he came down my suburbs wearing all that jewelery, and keep in mind, I am far from a thug, lol, I’d do it just bcuz I felt entitled to do so! Lil Wayne is from the South, but when was the last time one of his album sound like a traditional Southern album!! He signed Drake!!! Drake has no alligance to no coast, he is not a rapper, singer, or whatever, he is an ARTIST, the album is ART, a classic in it’s own right!! Stop being pissed that he wasnt raised in NY, Cali, or the Peach state, listen to good music and press on!!

http://jhuntdaprodigy.tumblr.com jhuntdaprodigy

Ayo, ayo, you all sound like some assholes, stfu!!! Drake’s album was a good album, I agree with the XL rating. It wasn’t anywhere near perfect, but it was still a solid album. Only part abt the review I kinda disagree on is the comparison of “Light Up” & “Karaoke”, the former was later on into the album and “story”, while Karaoke was the 2nd track. However, I also believe that Eminem had an amazing album!!! It will receive XL minimum. It was topically & lyrically better then TML. The beats were more similar sounding on Recovery then on TML though. In the end, I think Recovery is a stronger effort then TML, but the thing is I LIKE BOTH ALBUMS THOUGH!!! Put it this way, some ppl like Illmatic better, some like Reasonable Doubt, does that make either one of them trash though? HELL NO!!! So if you like one better, good 4 u, quit arguing like pussies abt it, got-damn!!!

http://www.justice.gov.za Chiliz

The Em’s album must be XL.5…….

Anonymous

All Em does is complain and moan about his ex and his psycho mother. Drake has much more depth to his lyrics…He can be romantic, he can brag, he can lament, he make you wanna party. That’s REAL talent. His album is remarkable for a young man of ONLY 23yrs. Let’s not forget that…He’s only 23 and doing so much already. Enough said…

Leonard Washington

rated XL
album is a M at best

StraightSlaps

Wow XXL get off his nuts this album is a large at the best. Production was weak, raps were weak come on with a real rating.

Anonymous

you guys know what pisses me off? somebody makes a statement expressing there views about a rapper or song and all of that artist’s dick riders come out and start screaming HATERRR like it is bad to have different views as somebody else

Anonymous

It aint that, you just get sick and tired of people looking for an Illmatic remake, fuck Illmatic and any other so called classic, there time is up, Drake is now!!!

bullets

YOUR ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINION BUT LP’S LIKE ILLMATIC SHAPED HIPHOP THESE NOW NIGAZ YOU TALKING ABOUT STILL USE LINES FROM FUCKIN 95 SO THEY AINT THAT “NEW” AND DRAKE CANT WASH NAS’S DRAWS HE’S TALENTED BUT DEFINITELY NOT FROM THE CLOTH OF GREAT MC’S, AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN SO CALLED CLASSIC THE SHIT IZ A CLASSIC POINT BLANK PERIOD AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE STILL LOVE IT IS THE PROOF OF THAT, THATS WHAT MAKES IT A CLASSIC YOU NEW NIGAS HERE AN LP ON TUESDAY AND WENESDAY ITS A CLASSIC LMAO…. LETS SEE IF YOU EVEN CAN FIND YOUR DRAKE CD IN A COUPLE A MONTHS THE SHIT PROBABLY BE UNDER SOME DIRTY CLOTHES OR SOME SHIT

T.I.P.

yesterday my dog died, i hog tied a ho, tied her in a bow
said next time you blow up try to spit a flow
you wanna criticize dog try a little mo
im so tired of this i could blow, fire in the hole
im fired up, so fire up the lighter and the dro
better hold on a little tighter here i go
flows tighter, hot headed as Ghostrider
cold hearted as Spiderman throwin a spider in the snow
so ya better get lower than Flo-rida inside of a lowrider with no tires in a hole
why am i like this? why is winter cold.
why is it when I talk im so biased to the ho’s.
listen dog Christmas is off, this is as soft as it gets, this isnt golf.
this is a blistering assault
those are your wounds this is the salt
so get lost, shit dissin me is just like pissin off the wizard of oz
wrap a lizard in gauze beat you in the jaws
with it grab the scissors and saws
And, cut out your livers gizzards and balls
throw you in the middle of the ocean in the blizzard with jaws
so sip piss like sizzurp through a straw
then describe how it tasted like dessert to us all
got the gall to make chris piss in his draws
ticklin him, go to his grave, skip him and visit his dog. – Eminem On Fire

I don’t know no body that said that in 95 man.. Dats Fire rite dere!

For the rest, when Drake be spittin lines like that, then we can talk comparing the two, til then Drake ain’t no where near close the rapper Em is. Dey two completely different type of Artists

duktape

i got both albums, like them both but replay value is em’s just because after a while all the singing shit gets on my nervs i mean come on you gonna go through ur hood bumping that singing shit and expect no one not to say anything???? dont get me wrong im happy for drake and the numbers he put up its just that i think that he might fuck around and get rated on the pop charts

bullets

I like drake dude is talented but there is no way this nigga got an official XL nigas paid for that this album is ridiculously mediocre and predictable minus one or two tracks I woulda gave the shit a M and on some real shit nigas need to stop calling shit classic that just came out yesterday a classic is an album that stands the test of time not has hot songs it’s not the same thing for example pay attention now people, “READY TO DIE” “THE CHRONIC” “DOGGYSTYLE” “ILLMATIC” “REASONABLE DOUBT” “DEATH CERTIFICATE” (“THE CARTER 3″)WHICH ONE OF THESE DOES NOT BELONG HMMMMMM……………

Ant

Look here you Fucks Darke album is okay Em is way better I listen to lyrics and lyrically Drake can’t touch him and Drake knows that. Everyone know if you get on a track with Em you will not outshine that white boy. Why you think niggas don’t diss him in the game caus ethey no better. Em albul is about his life. Listen to 25 five to life that shit is deep. listen to th eNo love he kill lil wayn for third time. Yes he rapp fast but listen to th ewords. He got mor flows and sudject maters to talk about. So Far gone was way better than the album he should of save soem of the tracks. Men lie woman lie nubers don’t. But anyway I respect everyones opinion. But yall need to get on that J cole he can spit way harder than Drake

Kerma

Drake’s album was solid, but rather self-repeating and, as said, mediocre for a debut.

Would give it 3/5 stars, noting that Find your love and Light Up were fucking nice.

Truth

I can’t believe you homos bought into this bullshit record company version of Justin Timberlake, makes me sick dudes got every hot rapper out to help his bitch ass.

http://xxl.com anon

this guy is damn lucky cos for me he is overrated…yes he has made few few songs but i dont think he has substance in him and when it comes to styles, he stole kanye, jay z and eminem styles and tried to combine it one style and lyrically he is not that good. u cant even compare him to eminem , ll cool j even ja rule could murder this clown. but I can compare him to prokid from south africa google him here tht guy spit in a good beat ‘FIRE’

HotelFrost

As long as Drake has a budget auto tune will live on by necessity.

Slimmz

When did Em become the standard to look upto? And this ain’t no hating tip nither. Also, Drake is the most overrated rapper in the GAME!!? People on this page are naming rappers who are very average, and the shit is complete bolloxs. XXL used to be good, now, they ain’t. They become like the Source…..

Greetings, have you got a Twitter page that I could follow? Many thanks

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